Minnesota stadium negotiations get stranger by the day (UPDATE)

Proposed Vikings Stadium Complex

((ht: star-tribune.com))

So...they aren't going down easy.

The odd, twisted, strange tale of the quest for a new Minnesota Vikings football stadium continues its out-of-left-field ways.

In today's little twist, the Republican side of the state legislature went public today saying that they are working on a deal with the team for a "Less-expensive", open-air (without a roof) stadium. Though they add, "The roof can come later".

The reason, Republican leaders tell the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, is to save the state's investment in the deal, which has been the sticking point all along.

The paper also quoted the stadium bill sponsor, Julie Rosen as saying, "It's a thought, though it hasn't properly been vetted...it's worth taking a look at".

However...the Vikings apparently didn't know about it either. And the Vikes say they are still sticking to the original, retractable roof option.

Here's the KSTP-TV update...


Read the full story from the Star-Tribune RIGHT HERE

The whole situation here just kind of sucks. We feel for the folks in Minnesota, the issue has now become a total political fight. And when that happens, the politicians are the only ones who win. (well, there pocketbooks anyway). Oh...we forgot to mention last weeks "Friendly" visit by the Jolly Roger (Goodell) when it looked like the deal was dead. Strangely it came back to life the same day.

Hmmmm....

It appears, at least on the surface, the state doesn't have the financial where-with-all to get a $400 million bond package for the stadium. It's an unfortunate part of what many have dealt with over the past 5-years.

What sucks is the inability to fork over said money is being used against them. And now its become a political hot potato. We're reasonably certain, based on the Governor's reaction, that nobody on his side (Democratic) was consulted before the Republican's spoke out about changing the plans. And really, it just bothers us that the taxpayers of Minnesota are going to have to fund the stadium and lose money that could be spent on infrastructure improvements, only to find out that Zigy Wilf gets all the profit and the taxpayers will get to pay double for the rights to sit in their own stadium.



PM UPDATE: There are also some protestors that are hanging around letting any public official involved that they're not fans of the new building. They were asked today if they're getting paid by the Vikes to hang out...

They're not...